The Book Club

The Book Club

The Book Club, hosted by Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett, brings the historical context behind famous books to life. Each week, the hosts explore a classic or contemporary title, unpacking the world in which it was written and the story behind its author. This is not your typical literature podcast: The Book Club educates AND entertains, leaving you knowing some of the greatest stories ever told.

Episodes

26. Mafia and Mystery: Is ‘My Brilliant Friend’ the Greatest Novel of the Century?

August 3, 2026 • 72 mins
What does My Brilliant Friend tell us about the dark underbelly of Italian society after the Second World War? Who is the mysterious Elena Ferrante? And, how did she craft a heartbreaking parable of escape and love? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind My Brilliant Friend, and the world it was born of. Exclusions apply. Learn more at https://www.klarna.com/uk/buyer-protection...
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25. The Thirty-Nine Steps: The First James Bond

July 27, 2026 • 72 mins
How did the First World War inspire The 39 Steps? Why did John Buchan set the novel in Scotland? And, is the dashing protagonist Richard Hannay, a model for later Spy heroes? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The 39 Steps, and the world it was born of. Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠ For analysis, book recommendations and more, sign up to our new...
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24. Jane Austen, Nazis and Murder: The Ultimate Summer Reading List

July 23, 2026 • 39 mins
Which books should you take on your summer holiday? How have some of Dominic and Tabby’s favourite destinations shaped these novels? And, what makes a summer classic? Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠ For analysis, book recommendations and more, sign up to our newsletter, Book Club Notes, introduced weekly by Tabby or Dominic. Sign up at: https://www.thebookclubhq.com/  Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠ TikTo...
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23. The Odyssey Retold: Circe, Monsters and Myth

July 20, 2026 • 70 mins
How does Madeline Miller re-work Greek mythology to explore women’s experience? Is Circe the best fantasy novel of the 2010s? And, why do we remain captivated by the world of ancient Greece? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Circe, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. You can order Circe and explore our favourite Folio books at http://foliosoc...
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22. The Leopard: The Greatest Historical Novel Ever Written?

July 13, 2026 • 81 mins
How did Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s family story shape his only novel, The Leopard? Why is The Leopard considered an Italian masterpiece? And, who is the sexiest man ever written? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Leopard, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. For analysis, book recommendations and more, sign up to our newsletter, Bo...
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21. The Wind In The Willows: How A Bedtime Story Became An Icon

July 6, 2026 • 92 mins
How did Kenneth Grahame come up with the idea for The Wind In The Willows? Why was the novel initially rejected by publishers? And, what character would Tabby and Dominic be? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Wind In The Willows, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. You can order The Wind In The Willows and explore our favourite Folio books at...
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20. Game of Thrones: The Horrifying True Story Behind A Song of Ice and Fire

June 29, 2026 • 87 mins
What real-world historical events and figures inspired the political conflicts in Westeros? Is George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones better than J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings? And, is it likely that George R.R. Martin will ever finish the A Song of Ice and Fire series? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of A Game of Thrones, the world it was born of, a...
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19. Little Women: The Secret Sadness of a Classic

June 22, 2026 • 76 mins
How did Louisa May Alcott break social and literary conventions? Is Little Women the first coming of age story in a novel? And, what do Tabby and Dominic think of Greta Gerwig’s 2019 film adaption? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Little Women, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠ For analysis, bo...
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18. The Code Of The Woosters: The Funniest Book Ever Written?

June 15, 2026 • 65 mins
How did P.G. Wodehouse become one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century? Why have Jeeves and Wooster become such an iconic pairing? And, did P.G. Wodehouse collaborate with the Nazis? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Code Of The Woosters, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠ For anal...
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17. Oscar Wilde's Downfall: The Picture of Dorian Gray

June 8, 2026 • 82 mins
How did the anxieties of late-Victorian Britain inspire Dorian Gray? Which real people lay behind the characters of Dorian Gray? What were the French Decadents, and how did they influence Wilde? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Picture of Dorian Gray, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠ Instagram: ...
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16. The Hunger Games: Rebellion and Violence In Dystopian America

June 1, 2026 • 75 mins
What does The Hunger Games say about the state of modern America? How did reality TV inspire The Hunger Games? Why did Suzanne Collin's novel become such a sensation with young adults? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Hunger Games, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠ ...
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15. Mrs Dalloway: Woolf, Sexuality, and Change

May 25, 2026 • 83 mins
What does Mrs Dalloway express about female sexuality and experience? Why did its modernist style cause such controversy? And, what was Virginia Woolf really like? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Mrs Dalloway, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠@thebookclubpod...
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14. Beloved: Memory, Morrison, and Modern American Fiction

May 18, 2026 • 79 mins
Who is Beloved, and what is the true historical story that inspired the novel? How does Toni Morrison use magical realism to explore the horror of Slavery? Why has Beloved become such a monumental piece of American fiction? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Beloved, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠ I...
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13. The Woman In White: Victorians, Sensation, and Scandal

May 11, 2026 • 72 mins
How did Wilkie Collins craft one of the earliest examples of detective fiction? What does The Woman In White reveal about the Victorian society? And, why did the novel cause such a sensation? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Woman In White, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclub...
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12. A Court of Thorns and Roses: ''Fairy Smut'' or Fantasy Sensation?

May 4, 2026 • 75 mins
How was ACOTAR inspired by traditional folklore? Why has the novel become such a mass sensation? And, what is Romantasy? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of A Court Of Thorns and Roses, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠⁠ X: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠ Y...
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11. The Hound of the Baskervilles: Mystery, Folklore, and Sherlock Holmes

April 27, 2026 • 76 mins
The Hound of the Baskervilles: Mystery, Folklore, and Sherlock HolmesWhat is the true story that inspired Arthur Conan Doyle's best-seller? Why have there been so many portrayals of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson in media beyond the novels? Is this the greatest Sherlock story ever told? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of The Hound Of The Baskervilles, the wor...
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10. East Of Eden: Steinbeck, Sin, and Redemption

April 20, 2026 • 68 mins
Why did Steinbeck consider East of Eden his magnum opus?  What does the novel reveal about human nature? How did Steinbeck interrogate early 20th century American society? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of East Of Eden, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. Email us: ⁠⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠@th...
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9. Normal People: Class, Ireland, and Heartbreak

April 13, 2026 • 69 mins
Is Sally Rooney's hit novel really a love story? How does class division impact the love Marianne and Connell feel for each other? Is Rooney creating a relatable story of miscommunication during first loves, or a tale of heartbreak and loss? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Normal People, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. Email us: ⁠⁠thebook...
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8. Northern Lights: Dogma, Destiny, and Dæmons

April 6, 2026 • 77 mins
To what extent is Pullman’s novel a critique of organised religion? How was Northern Lights inspired by Milton's Paradise Lost? And, did Northern Lights reshape the landscape of modern children's literature? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Northern Lights, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. You can order and explore our favourite Foli...
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7. Frankenstein: Horror, Humanity, and Hubris

March 30, 2026 • 76 mins
Did Mary Shelley create the first true science fiction novel? Is Frankenstein a philosophical fable? How did Frankenstein inspire countless more horror stories? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they delve into the fascinating story behind the writing of Frankenstein, the world it was born of, and the novel itself. You can order Frankenstein and explore our favourite Folio books at https://foliosociety.com/thebook...
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